Got up early this morning.  I always refer to this week as “that time of the month.”  It’s when I have to work on my newsletter for my supporters! Went by the Post Office to pick up stamps and to Staples to get envelopes.

Drove around in the clouds this morning. . . some call it fog!

Jesse is still running a fever.  This may impact his wisdom teeth surgery next week.  (Get the pun?) Pray that he feels better!

Went to lunch with new partners:  Josh and Margaret Feit. 

They’re members of Open Table church and big supporters of our partner who runs the ministry at Pearl Lane.  A couple of weeks ago they hosted a Bike Workshop in the community.  They had about 30 people come through and get their bikes worked on.  Josh is really talented in graphic design too!  Their ministry is called “Communicycle.” It’s a good way to establish relationships in the community!

I had a meeting with them and Ian and Ruthie North. 

I thought they had a lot of overlap in their ministry strategies.  Ian is going to the workshop this evening with one of the kids from his missions.

People usually get in touch with me when they have questions about expanding their ministry into more areas in the community since we have such an extended infrastructure.  I was glad to give them some coaching.  I’m looking forward to working with them more closely.

Ruthie is working on the signage for her ministry with the refugee pastor’s wives called Refugee Beads.  I took them over to Michaels to pick out the supplies they need to make the signs for when she goes to the craft fairs.  Ruthie is very talented besides being an excellent business person. She starts her ministry with the ladies this week.  We have the infrastructure set up now: business license, registration, etc.  She spent more than 30 hours this week getting that accomplished.  Starting something is always hard.  Doing it the second time will be a LOT easier.

I dropped the Norths off at their car and went over to Azalea to check on the kids.  They helped me with the labels for my newsletters. Occasionally, they get the labels on the envelope!

I brought them some doughnuts and also some school supplies that several of the kids needed.

Then helped Bahat with his math.  I’m teaching him pennies and nickles.  He showed me a page of pictures of the coins.  I tore them each out then pointed to one, “Nickle.”  He’d repeat, “nickle.”  Then to penny.  He’d say “penny.”  Over and over and over again.  Then how much each one was worth.  One, five, five, five, one, one, one.  This stuff just takes mass repetition.  Then I taught his mom (she was dressed in a sari and spoke very limited English, “Show me five.”  “Show me three.”  Bahat would have to then group five pennies, or three pennies or a nickle or whatever.  We’ll see how they do!

I’m sore from working out yesterday. I kind of like that feeling.  Sorta.  Too tired to run.

It’s supposed to rain the next several days.  We sure need it, but that day after day of rainy weather really depresses me.

Dr. Geoff Hammond, the President of the North American Mission Board is coming to visit our work in Clarkston tomorrow.  Pray that goes well.  The more people know about our work, the more come to help us.  It’s all about replicating yourself over and over again.

Like counting pennies. . . . they add up!